Tunnel of bones

There's a lot of darkness lurking in the City of Light, as Cass discovers on her parents' latest ghost-hunting assignment. Their reality-TV gig takes the family (and Cass' BFF Jacob, a ghost) to several iconic Paris locations, but their first stop at the catacombs becomes the epicenter of the story's action. There, Cass is besieged by restless spirits trying to pull her into the Veil, a sort of paranormal purgatory, and when they succeed, the ghost of a young boy follows Cass back into the living world. Soon, the increasingly dangerous accidents dogging Cass' steps reveal that she's dealing with a poltergeist, and the only way to send this disaster-causing boy on is to discover what happened to him in life. Schwab's sequel to City of Ghosts (2018) is another hair-raising romp for middle-graders ready to dip their toes into horror. Mystery and Paris history intermingle nicely, and a subplot involving Jacob's past intensifies readers' investment in the characters. Readers can jump straight into the series here, but have book one at the ready.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: That buzz you're feeling might be from spirit energy, or it's from the excitement the publisher is drumming up with a national author tour and a Halloween campaign.--Julia Smith Copyright 2010 Booklist

In City of Ghosts (rev. 11/18), set in Edinburgh, twelve-year-old Cassidy and her (ghost) best friend Jacob narrowly escaped being trapped in the Veil between life and death by a malevolent spirit. Now, Casss parents are filming their paranormal TV show in Paris, where Cass and Jacob are drawn into the orbit of another dangerous entity: a poltergeist. The pair must banish the creature before its mischief escalates to mayhem for the entire city. As they learn about the poltergeists human life and tragic end, Cass grows concerned that Jacobs increasing kinetic abilities and caginess about his death are indications that, like the poltergeist, he may forget his humanity and turn violent. Schwab skillfully weaves her settings atmosphere and history into the brisk adventure; the claustrophobic-feeling climactic scene set in Pariss infamous Catacombs is especially immersive. Jacob, previously mostly a source of comic relief and moral support for Cass, here takes a more central role and ultimately reveals some details of his own poignant backstory. Scary and sad moments are balanced by the supportive friendship and witty, pop-culture-reference-filled banter between Cass and Jacob. A final spooky incident will leave readers impatiently awaiting the next ghost-hunting expedition. katie bircher September/October 2019 p.99(c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The sequel to City of Ghosts (2018) takes Cassidy Blake to Paris.Cass and her parents travel from Edinburgh, a city of shadows, to the City of Light for the next episode of the paranormal TV show The Inspecters. First stop: Paris' catacombs, where, five stories underground, the remains of more than 6 million people lie beneath the feet of the city's 2 million living inhabitants. Here, in this tunnel of bones, the golden, glittering light of the metropolis above yields to an eerie dimness. Both Cass, who is a beacon for the dead, and her spectral best friend, Jacob, who continues acting as the voice of caution, immediately feel its psychic negativity. When Cass mistakenly frees a poltergeist from the catacombs, she and Jacob must race against the clock to stop it before it wreaks irrevocable havoc on all of Paris. From the the Tuileries to the Pre Lachaise cemetery to the Paris Opera House, sense of place is tangible. Vivid descriptions of the catacombs highlight the morbidly fascinating nature of one of the world's creepiest locations. Knowledge of the previous book isn't strictly necessary, but readers will want to delve into Cass' first adventure before embarking on this one. The open ending will leave readers wondering where Cassidy's paranormal adventures will take her next. Assume whiteness except for Cassidy's Scottish Indian friend, Lara Chowdhury, who offers guidance via text and video.Another spine-tinglingly satisfying trek into the world of the dead. (Paranormal adventure. 8-13) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.